Room air conditioner



July 10, 1956 R. R. GANNON ROOM AIR CONDITIONER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 10, 1953 A W 57 33T INVENTOR. 4 0x524 Gwm o/v, BY

ammzzw ATTORNEYS- July 10, 1956 R. R. GANNON 2,753,699

ROOM AIR CONDITIONER Filed Dec. 10, 1953- 5 Sheets$heet 2 IN V EN TOR. 5554-2 4 f G'mwvam United States Patent ROOM AIR CONDITIONER Russell R. Gannon, Cincinnati, @lllfi Application December 10, 1953, Serial No. 397,413

6 Claims. (Cl. 62-140) My invention is directed to the provision of any improved room air conditioner, and is particularly concerned with providing a room air cooling unit which may be situated entirely within the room for which it is to be used.

In recent years room air cooling units have become quite popular. In many older buildings not having an air conditioning system it has proved desirable and economical to provide individual rooms, and sets of rooms, with air conditioning and cooling units designed to cool the air within the particular room or set of rooms concerned.

In the past, however, these room air cooling units have proved to be cumbersome and diflicult to install as well as expensive. Furthermore, in all such units known to me a good part of the unit must protrude through the window to the outside of the building. This has caused much trouble.

In these prior air cooling units having a portion thereof extending through the window to the outside of the building, one of the most objectionable features has been that the protruding part of the unit has greatly interfered with workman in charge of maintaining the building in good condition and particularly with window washers. It will be obvious that the task of cleaning windows, particularly in the larger buildings, has been greatly magnified, even to the extent of making such occupations more hazardous than normal, by reason of the fact that these large protruding unit parts are difiicult to negotiate and often interfere with the means by which the window washer will strap himself to the building in order to get at the outside of the window.

Another objectionable feature of the former air cooling units employing the protruding section is that such units often interfere with the work of fireman and life squad rescue workers. Again, these protruding unit sections often present obstacles which are ditlicult if not impossible to circumvent in times when speed is of the essence.

Furthermore, birds such as pigeons and starlings have found the protruding unit sections to offer an extremely fine roosting place which has resulted in the accumulation of filth on buildings wherein this had never heretofore been a problem.

Accordingly, many cities and communities have endeavored to legislate against room air conditioning units in order to keep to a minimum the amounts of the unit section that might protrude from the window. Even in the face of such legislation, however, heretofore no one has developed a satisfactory room air cooling unit in which such protruding section has been entirely eliminated.

It is an object of my invention, therefore, to provide an efiicient, economical room air cooling unit in which all the operating parts are contained Within sections which are placed fully within the room with which the unit is to be used.

Another object of my invention is to provide an air cooling .unit which does not present an obstacle to work- "ice men such as window washers, rescue workers, firemen and the like.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a room air conditioning unit that may be installed easily with a minimum amount of labor and with a great saving in time.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a room air cooling unit which does not offer attractive perches to birds such as starlings, pigeons and others.

An important object of my invention is to provide a room air conditioning unit which may be located entirely within the room and which will also make satisfactory provision for the removal of accumulated moisture.

A further object of this invention is to provide an arran ement of the principal operating parts that will insure the optimum use of the various operating parts and which will provide novel control means for regulating air exhausted from the room and also the fresh air supply to the room, both in conjunction with the cooling of the proper amount of air.

These and other objects of my invention will become clear to one skilled in the art during the course of the following description and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which drawings like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same and in which:

Figure l is a front elevation of a part of the interior of a building wall showing my air conditioning unit in place against the wall and window,

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 44 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a front elevation, partly in section and with parts broken away, of a modified form of my invention,

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a section taken on the line 77 of Figure 5,

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the means for removing condensed moisture,

Figure 9 is a front elevation, partly in section and with parts broken away, of yet another modification of my invention,

Figure 10 is a section taken on the line 1010 of Figure 9,

Figure 11 is a section taken on the line 1111 of Figure 9, and

Figure 12 is a section taken on the line 1212 of Figure 10.

Referring now first to Figures 1 through 4 I have illustrated one of the basic modifications of my invention. In my invention as disclosed in the three basic modifications shown herein, it will be understood that the basic refrigeration apparatus and principles comprising a motor, compressor, condenser and evaporator, are of conventional construction and function. I do not claim to have invented new apparatus and means for actually cooling the air. The basic apparatus employed in the unit of my invention is generally similar to that incorporated in most air cooling units. I do claim, however, to have invented a unit in which this apparatus is physically arranged in a novel manner heretofore unknown to the art. The principal accomplishment of my basic arrangement is to enable the unit to be maintained fully within the room and without sections thereof protruding through the window to the building exterior. These constructions will be emphasized throughout the description to follow.

In general, my improved air cooling unit may be thought of as consisting of two main sections. Accordingly, in Figure 1 I have indicated the unit generally at 20 as consisting of an upper section 21 and a lower section 22. The upper section 21 contains a combined motor and compressor 23 and also the condenser coils 24. To repeat, it will be understood that the motor and compressor, as well as the condenser coils, are of conventional construction and in view of this certain of the operative connections between them, and also the evaporator, are more or less diagrammatically represented in the figures. As stated, however, their general arrangement and position within the various sections as will be described does constitute an important part of this invention.

The lower section 22 contains the evaporator unit 25. In addition, within this section 22 I provide a blower 26 which serves to draw air from the room and introduce it into the unit through filtering means 27 located in the lowermost part of the lower section. If desired, this air may also be passed over or through purifying or ionizing means 28 which may consist of moist ceramic material or other desired media.

In the upper section 21 I also provide a fan 29 which may be driven in any suitable manner. Also, the upper section 21 will be observed to abut the window 30 and in this area the section is provided with a filter screen 31 and louvers 32 to condition the outside air brought into the unit and to prevent the entry of rain and the like. The fan 29 serves to draw air through the screen section 310, pass it over and around the motor and compressor 23, blow it around the condenser coils 24 and exhaust it through the screen section 31b. This air as moved by the fan 29 serves to cool the unit by removing heat from the motor and compressor 23 and the condenser coils 24.

As best shown in Figure 3, it will be observed that the entire air cooling unit, with the exception of a drain pipe 36, is located entirely within the room for which the unit is designed. The top section 21, containing the motor and compressor, the condenser coils and the fan 29, does not extend beyond the limits of the building as defined by the window 39. The lower section 22 depends from the section 21 and assumes a position parallel to and as flush with the interior building wall as is permitted by such interior obstructions as window sills, radiators and the like. As stated, the blowers and evaporator means are located within this lower section 22.

In conjunction with the modification of Figure 3, I also provide control dampers 33 and 34. On opening the damper or door 33, air from the room is drawn by the fan 29 and passed out of the unit as at 31b. When, however, the damper or door 34 is opened, it being on the side of the fan 29 which is in the path of air blown forwardly by it, air which is drawn into the unit at 31a by this same fan 22 will be blown into the room. In this manner fresh air may be introduced into the room. Circulation of this air, and the main body already present, through the unit as introduced at 27 will effect proper cooling as desired.

By the arrangement just described it will be observed that again the single fan 29 serves not only to exhaust air from the room when this is desired but also to supply fresh air to the room when the need for this is indicated. By locating the fan 29 in the manner shown, and placing the room air exhaust door in back thereof as illustrated, the fresh air supply door being located in front thereof, one may either exhaust air from the room or supply fresh air thereto simply by opening the proper damper or door.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3 air which is cooled by being passed around the evaporator unit 25 is discharged into the room through sets of louvers 35. In passing around the evaporator unit 25 the air will lose a good amount of its moisture which will form on the unit and, depending on the temperature, will eventually become liquid in nature and drip therefrom.

One of the chief problems in locating a unit entirely within the room, as I have done, is to provide satisfactory means for eliminating the water which forms in the manner just indicated. To this end I provide a pan-like element 37, having a bottom sloping towards one end thereof, and associated with a tube 38 having a connection with the conduit 36 earlier mentioned. Actually the element 37 directs the water to a sump 39 in which the lower end of the conduit 38 is positioned.

Referring particularly to Figure 4 there is best disclosed the means for removing the Water of the unit shown in Figures 1 through 3. The sump 39 is provided with a pair of electrical contacts 40 placed in circuit with a suitable source of electric current and with vibrating means 41 having an arm 42. The arm 42 is connected to the conduit 38. The conduit 38 has a portion of its interior wall provided with a plurality of corrugations or step like elements 43. These elements 43 extend from bottom to top of the conduit 38.

Because the water which condenses about the evaporator unit 25 and is accumulated in the sump 39 after dropping into the pan 37 is rather pure in nature I provide a salt pill or the like 44 in order that the water, when it rises to a sufiicient level within the sump 39 to connect the elements 40, may serve as a proper media for completing the circuit including such elements 4%. The salt, of course, furnishes the necessary mineral matter to the water.

When the water within the sump 39 rises to such a level that an electrical connection is completed in the circuit including the elements 40 and the vibrator 41, such vibrator is actuated with the result that the arm 42 oscillates vigorously. This motion is in turn imparted to the tube 38. The jiggling of this tube 38, having the stepped interior portion 43, causes the water to gradually move up the steps 43 until it falls upon the inclined conduit 36. As shown in Figure 3 such water will then flow down the conduit and be discharged to the exterior of the building.

As will be described more fully in connection with the showing of Figure 12, and also with Figure 8, the arrangement of Figure 4 constitutes but one satisfactory way which I have devised for removing the water. Actually, as will be discussed in full shortly, I prefer the embodiment of Figure 12.

Referring again to the modification shown in Figures 1 through 4, it will be observed that I have provided an air conditioning unit comprised of two sections, namely an upper section containing the conventional motor, compressor and condenser coil and a lower unit containing the evaporator means. The upper section rests on the interior window sill and does not extend beyond the building limit as defined by the window 30. The lower section depends directly from this upper section and is as close to the interior room wall as possible.

In operation, air within the room is introduced into the unit at the bottom thereof through the filter 27. Such movement of air is forced by the blower means 26. This air then passes in the vicinity of the evaporator unit 25, to which it loses its heat, and the air thus cooled is discharged through the louvers 35. The evaporator unit 25, of course, is operatively connected with the motor and compressor 23 and the condenser coils 24. As stated, the relationship, other than the actual position within the particular sections as shown, among the compressor 23, condenser 24 and evaporator 25 is conventional.

The fan 29 serves not only to cool the compressor 23 and condenser 24 by sucking in air through the screen portion 31a and blowing it out of the building at at 31b, but also such fan serves to exhaust air from the room when this is desired, in which case the operator simply opens the door 33, and to direct fresh air into the room as may be controlled simply by opening the door 34. It is believed that the location of the fan 29 with respect to the doors 33 and 34 is novel.

Also, as above described, water which accummulates about the evaporator unit may be discharged from the air conditioner unit by means such as shown in connection with Figure 4.

Also, in some instances it is desirable to mix the fresh air with the cooled air before discharging it into the room.

To this end I provide a door 45 located in the wall 46 between the upper section 21 and lower section 22. When this door 45 is opened, air moved by the fan 29 is introduced within the path of air moved by the blower 26 with the result that such air, including the fresh air, is then cooled together and discharged into the room. Thus, one may introduce fresh air into the room either directly by manipulation of the door 34 or by mixing it With the air to be cooled as may be done by manipulating the door 45.

Referring now to Figures through 8 I have illustrated another modification of my invention. As above indicated, like numerals will be employed wherever possible to represent parts corresponding to those shown in connection with the description and showing of Figures 1 through 4. Thus, in Figure 6 it will be observed that the unit again comprises an upper section 21 and a lower section 22. As before the upper section 21 houses the condenser coils 24 and the combined motor and compressor 23. Also, the lower section houses the blower 26 and the evaporator unit 25.

In the arrangement of Figures 5 through 8 the condenser coils 24 are located adjacent that side of the unit which is exposed to the out-of-doors. The motor and compressor 23 is located in back of such coils to one side of the unit while the fan is located in a similar position to the other side of the unit. Again this fan is indicated at 29. Although the specific arrangement of the means 23, 24 and 29 is somewhat different, it will be observed that the fan 29 still functions to supply air cooling media to the condenser 24 and compressor 23 by causing air to enter the upper section at 31a, pass around the compressor 23 and exit at 31b. As the air enters and leaves the unit it passes around the condenser coils 24 thus serving to pick up heat therefrom and blow it out-of-doors.

Also, as thus seen in Figure 6, I provide the exhaust door 33 in the top of the upper section 21. Again, due to the action of the fan 29 and the placement of the exhaust door 33, air from the room may be forced to the out-of-doors as desired.

As before, in this embodiment the air within the room is introduced to the unit through filter means 27 located in the bottom thereof. Also, the cooled air is discharged from the unit as at 35.

In the embodiment of Figures 5 through 8 I employ somewhat different means for removing the accummulated water. As before, the water which condenses about the evaporator unit 25 is collected in a pan 37 which directs it to a sump 39. A conduit 38 leads from this sump 39.

Within the conduit 38, and extending within the sump 39, is a wick of suitable material, such wick being indicated at 47. Water which collects in the sump 39 contacts the wick 47 and, by capillary action, travels upwardly through the conduit 38. The upper end of this wick 47 is spread out as indicated at 48 and bound to the side of the motor and compressor 23 as shown at 49.

It will be understood that there is a fair amount of heat generated by the motor and compressor 23 and that this heat, in combination with the greatly enlarged portion 48 of the wick 47, will serve to vaporize the water which is conducted upwardly through the unit by such wick. This moist air is removed from the unit by the action of the fan 29 in pulling air into the unit at 31a, passing it around the motor and compressor 23, with the wick attached thereto as at 49, and discharging it to the out-ofdoors as indicated at 31b.

The basic operation of the modification of Figures 5 through 8 is essentially the same as that described in connection with the modification of Figures 1 through 4. Although the parts within the upper section are somewhat differently arranged, it will be observed that such section does contain basically the same elements as did the corresponding section in the first modification. The means for removing the condensed water, however, are specifically different and this has just been described in connection with the showing of Figure 8. As before, however, it should be noted that there is no unit section extending beyond the limit of the building as defined by the window. The unit is located entirely within the room and may thus be easier installed as well as having the other advantages outlined in the first part of this description.

Referring now to Figures 9 through 12 I have illustrated yet another modification of my invention. Again, as was the case with the first two modifications described, the principal cooling apparatus, comprising the motor and compressor, the condenser unit and the evaporator unit, are located in the same respective upper and lower sections constituting my basic air conditioning unit. Thus, it will be observed'that the upper section 21 again houses a motor and compressor 23, in this instance there being two of these, a fan 29 and the condenser coils 24. The lower section 22 again houses the evaporator unit 25 and the blower means 26.

In the arrangement of Figures 9 through 12 I provide for the introduction of air from the'ont-of-doors, to cool the motor and compressor as well as the condenser coils, through inlets 31a located at either side of the unit. This air will be pulled in such inlets, passed around the motor and compressors 23, and then discharged over the condenser coils and to the out-of-doors as indicated at 31b. Again, air from within the room may be exhausted by the fan 29 simply by opening the door 33 located in the top wall of the upper section 21. In this particular unit, however, rather than introduce the air through the lowermost part of the lower section 22, I provide for its introduction through filter means 27 located in the front wall of the lower section. To this end the blower 26 is located above the evaporator unit 25 and serves to suck in the air through the filter 27, pass'it around the unit 25 and then discharge it at 35.

Again, one of the important problems involved in connection with air cooling units, especially such as these which are located wholly within a room, is that of removing the water which materializes around the evaporator unit 25. As before, I provide a tray 37 which slopes so as to discharge the water into a sump 39. A conduit 38 extends upwardly from the sump 39. In this embodiment I provide electrical contact means 40a in a circuit such that when electrical connection is effected between the contacts 40a sufiicient heat is generated as to cause the water within the sump 39 to vaporize, the'steam thus generated passing upwardly through the conduit 38. This is best seen in Figure 12 where the water coming from the evaporator unit 25 is shown as directed into the sump 39 by means of the conduit 37a. As before, a salt tablet 44 is placed within the sump 39 to furnish sufiicient mineral content to the water as to afford a proper electrical connection between the members 40a when a sufficient quantity of water has been collected.

As best seen in Figures 10 and 11, the conduit 38 extends into the upper section 21 of the air cooling unit and to the out-of-doors. Thus, the moisture vapors which are brought into existence at 39 are discharged into the atmosphere. If desired, the conduit 38 may-discharge into a suitable downspout.

The operation of each of the modifications of my invention is basically the same. The more or less conventional motors, compressors and condensers are located within an upper unit which abuts the open window but which does not extend therethrough. The evaporator unit is located in a lower section immediately beneath the upper section and depending therefrom, substantially flush with the interior wall. The room air is brought into'the unit and passed in the vicinity of the evaporator unit whereby it is cooled. The function of the compressor, condenser and evaporator is substantially the same as that employed in similar units. The particular positioning of these items, however, in the manner explained herein, is believed novel with applicant.

In addition, I have provided means for removing the moisture which collects in the vicinity of the evaporator unit. Although I prefer the means shown in Figure 12 it will be understood that those of Figures 4 and 8 are also desirable.

In each of the embodiments of my invention as illustrated not only are the compressor and condenser means located in the top section of the unit, and the evaporator means in the lower section, but also I provide an arrangement whereby such compressor and condenser may be cooled by air. In addition the means for producing a current of air to cool these elements of the apparatus also serves, in conjunction with appropriately placed doors and the like, to control the exhaust of spent air from the room and even the addition of fresh air to the room. In some instances this fresh air may be admitted directly to the room while in other instances it is mixed with the room air and then cooled therewith.

In addition, in the embodiment of Figures 9 through 12 I have indicated an arrangement in which a pair of compressors may be utilized in conjunction with a condenser and an evaporator unit. Furthermore, it will be apparent that the condenser 24 might be formed in two operative sections 24a and 2412 as shown in Figure 10. Similarly, the evaporator unit may comprise a pair of operative sections 25a and 25b. Thus, in this manner, it will be possible to use but one-half of the available apparatus should the weather so indicate while reserving the other half for extremely hot weather. Also, in the arrangement of Figure 11, I have shown a provisional or auxiliary exhaust door 50.

I have found that by separating the conventional refrigeration apparatus so that the compressor and condenser are located within the upper part of the unit and the evaporator within the lower part of the unit I am able to provide a room air cooling unit which may be located wholly within the room and which makes it possible to get rid of the accumulated moisture. Thus, by such arrangement, the provision of a fan 29 in the upper section serves not only to cool the compressor and condenser as is needed but also to evacuate the moisture which is brought thereinto by the conduit 38 from the sump 39. In any event, it is a distinct feature of my invention, whether the basic refrigeration apparatus be disposed in the manner generally indicated by me or in some other manner, that no part of the unit extend beyond the building wall as defined by the window.

It is to be understood that modifications may be made in my invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof, and that while I have shown my invention as embodied in certain specific structures, I do not intend to be limited to such structures except insofar as they are specifically set forth in the sub-joined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and what I desire to protect by way of United States Letters Patent is:

1. A room air cooling unit comprising an upper section adapted to rest on an interior window sill and abut the window, and a lower section depending within the room from said upper section, said sections containing motor and compressing means, a condenser, an evaporator, a blower and means to discharge accumulated moisture to the out-of-doors, the motor and compressing means and the condenser being located in the upper section, and the evaporator and blower being located in the lower section, said moisture first being accumulated in the lower section, and including air intake and exhaust means from and to the out-of-doors located in that portion of the upper section which abuts the window, and also including air moving means located in the upper section to draw air from the out-of-doors, pass it around the motor and compressing means and the condenser, and discharge it to the out-of-doors, whereby to remove heat from the upper section of the unit, the lower section being provided with means to receive warm air from the room and means to discharge cool air into the room, said blower serving to suck in the warm air, pass it in contact with the evaporator, and blow it into the room, the path of the air moved by the blower normally being out of contact with that moved by said upper air moving means.

2. The unit of claim 1 in which the room side of said upper section is provided with a room air exhaust damper and a fresh air supply damper, said air moving means comprising a fan located between said dampers and moving air from said exhaust damper towards said fresh air damper, whereby at least some of the air drawn from the out-of-doors may enter the room upon closing of the exhaust damper and opening of the fresh air damper, and at least some of the air within the room may be discharged from the unit by opening the exhaust damper and closing the fresh air damper.

3. The unit of claim 2 including a third damper within said unit adjacent the upper and lower sections and in the path of the air blown by said fan and also in the path of air moved by said blower, said third damper normally being closed, whereby upon opening said third damper fresh air moved by said fan is mixed with air moved by said blower prior to its contact with said evaporator.

4. The unit of claim 1 in which said condenser is disposed substantially across the full width of said upper section adjacent the window, said air intake means and said air exhaust means being located side by side and each taking up about one-half the width of the upper section, and said air moving means comprising a fan located in front of said exhaust means to force air thereout.

5. The unit of claim 1 in which said condenser is disposed centrally of said upper section adjacent the window, said air intake means being located to either side of said condenser and said air exhaust means being located behind said condenser, said air moving means comprising a fan blowing air about said condenser towards said exhaust means.

6. A room air cooling unit comprising an upper section adapted to rest on an interior window sill and abut the window, and a lower section depending within the room from said upper section, said sections containing motor and compressing means, a condenser, an evaporator, a blower and means to discharge accumulated moisture to the out-of-doors, said moisture discharge means comprising a sump to collect water from said evaporator, a pair of contacts in an electric circuit to effect an electric current upon connection by a sufiicient quantity of moisture in said sump, a conduit having internal step-like configurations, said conduit extending upwardly from said sump, a drain leading from said conduit to the out-of-doors, and vibrating means attached to said conduit and in the electric circuit including said connections, whereby jiggling of said conduit by said vibrating means causes water to travel up said step-like configurations to said drain pipe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

